Signal encoding apparatus, audio data transmitting method, audio data recording method, audio data decoding method and audio disc

ABSTRACT

A format of data recorded in a DVD-Audio disc is composed of an audio manager (AMG) and a plurality of audio title sets (ATSS) following the AMG. A plurality of audio packs are arranged in each ATS. An audio signal indicating a musical composition is encoded to audio data in a signal processing circuit, and the audio data is arranged in the audio packs. The audio data of the audio packs are formatted in a DVD formatting unit with the AMG to be arranged in the ATSs following the AMG. Also, copyright information is arranged in an area of a control data block placed in a read-in area of the DVD-Audio disc. Table-of-contents (TOC) information indicating a top address of the audio data is automatically produced and is arranged in an empty area of the control data block reserved for the copyright information, in an area of the audio packs, in an area of the AMG or in an area of the ATSs. The AMG, the ATSs including the audio packs and the TOC information arranged at the data format in the DVD formatting unit are transmitted to a human editor through a transmission medium and is recorded in the DVD-Audio disc. Therefore, when the audio data is read out from the DVD-Audio disc, the audio data can be easily played back from the top position of the musical composition according to the TOC information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a signal encoding apparatus forencoding an audio signal or audio and video signals to audio data oraudio/video data to be recorded in an audio recording medium, an audiodata transmitting method for transmitting the audio data encoded in theencoding apparatus through a transmission medium, an audio datarecording method for recording the audio data transmitted according tothe audio data transmitting method in the audio disc, audio datadecoding method for decoding the audio data transmitted according to theaudio data transmitting method, and an audio disc for recording audiodata to be read out from its top position.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] 2.1. Previously Proposed Art:

[0005] A conventional compact disc (CD) has been known as a conventionalaudio signal playback optical disc. Also, a digital video disc (or adigital versatile disc) (DVD) has been recently known as an optical dischaving a packing density higher than that of the CD. The digital videodisc is called DVD-video disc in this specification. Also, a DVD-Audiodisc has been recently known as an optical disc for music.

[0006] 2.2. Problems to be Solved by the Invention:

[0007] However, in cases where both a video signal (or video data) andan audio signal (or audio data) are recorded in the same DVD-video disc,the video signal is primarily recorded in the DVD-video disc, and therecording of the audio signal is subordinated to the recording of thevideo signal. Therefore, there are following problems.

[0008] First, the audio signal is integrated with the video signal inthe DVD-video disc, so that the audio signal and the video signal arerecorded as a set. Therefore, a memory capacity for the audio signal isconsiderably lower than that for the video signal.

[0009] Secondly, a time management for the audio signal cannot beperformed independent of the video signal.

[0010] Thirdly, simple text information such as a music name cannot beread out from the DVD-video disc.

[0011] Also, because users, who are entertained with music obtained byplaying back the audio signal, desire the DVDvideo disc to be used forvarious purposes as compared with users entertained with a picturerelating to the video signal, a simple audio play method is required ofthe DVD-video disc. For example, the users for the audio signal desiresto arrange an area of table-of-contents (TOC) in the DVD-video disc inthe same manner as in the CD. However, in the DVD-video disc, a videocontents block unit is composed of a navigation control pack (called aCONT pack), a plurality of video (V) packs and a plurality of audio (A)packs, and the playback of the video and audio packs is controlled byusing the CONT pack. Therefore, even though a user intends to primarilyrecord the audio signal in the DVD-video disc independence of the videosignal, a user cannot easily play back the audio signal, so that thereis a problem that the DVD-video disc is not very useful for the user.

[0012] Also, the time management in the DVD-video disc is performed foreach video frame. Therefore, even though a user intends to primarilyrecord the audio signal in the DVD-video disc independence of the videosignal, because it is important to continuously play back the audiosignal as compared with the video signal, there is a problem that it isdifficult to perform a time management for the audio signal in realtime.

[0013] Also, in cases where a musical composition is recorded in aDVD-Audio disc, when the musical composition is played back, usersdesire that the musical composition is easily played back from its topposition. Also, it is convenient for users that the DVD-Audio disc iscompatible with the DVD-video disc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A first object of the present invention is to provide a signalencoding apparatus in which an audio signal or audio and video signalsare encoded to audio data or audio/video data to be primarily recordedin an audio disc and to be easily read out from the audio disc accordingto TOC (table-of-contents) information recorded in the audio disc.

[0015] A second object of the present invention is to provide an audiodata transmitting method in which audio data (or an audio signal) istransmitted to a human editor to be primarily recorded in an audio disc.

[0016] A third object of the present invention is to provide an audiodata recording method in which audio data (or an audio signal)transmitted to a human editor is recorded in an audio disc to beprimarily recorded.

[0017] A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an audiodata decoding method in which audio data transmitted to a human editoris decoded to be primarily recorded in an audio disc.

[0018] A fifth object of the present invention is to provide an audiodisc in which audio data of a musical composition (or a movement of asymphony) is recorded to be easily played back from the top position ofthe musical composition.

[0019] A sixth object of the present invention is to provide an audiodata transmitting method in which audio data of a musical composition(or a movement of a symphony) is transmitted through a recording mediumor a transmission medium to be easily played back from the top positionof the musical composition.

[0020] The first object is achieved by the provision of a signalencoding apparatus, comprising:

[0021] signal encoding means for encoding a signal to produce audiodata, audio title set information and table-of-contents (TOC)information;

[0022] formatting means for formatting the audio data produced by thesignal processing means, audio manager information and audio title setinformation to arrange the audio data in an audio pack, to arrange theaudio manager information in an area of an audio manager and to arrangethe audio title set information in an area of an audio title set, andarranging table-of-contents (TOC) information in an area reserved forcopyright information which is arranged in a control data block providedaccording to a DVD-ROM standard, in the audio pack, in the area of theaudio manager, in a table-of-contents (TOC) file or in the area of theaudio title set; and

[0023] outputting means for outputting the audio data, the audio managerinformation, the audio title set information and the table-of-contents(TOC) information formatted by the formatting means.

[0024] In the above configuration, audio data is produced by encoding asignal in the signal encoding means. Thereafter, the audio data isarranged in an audio pack, audio manager information is arranged in anarea of an audio manager, audio title set information is arranged in anarea of an audio title set, and table-of-contents (TOC) information isarranged in an area reserved for copyright information which is arrangedin a control data block provided according to a DVD-ROM standard, in theaudio pack, in the area of the audio manager, in a table-of-contents(TOC) file or in the area of the audio title set. The TOC informationdenotes information of a title, information of a start address of theaudio data, information of a music play time and the like. Therefore,the audio data, the audio manager information, the audio title setinformation and the TOC information are formatted. Thereafter, the audiodata, the audio manager information, the audio title set information andthe TOC information are output.

[0025] Accordingly, in cases where the audio data is primarily recordedin an audio disc such as a DVD-ROM-audio disc, a DVD-ROM-Van disc or aDVD-ROM-audio disc type 2, because the table-of-contents (TOC)information is arranged in an area reserved for copyright information,in the audio pack, in the area of the audio manager, in thetable-of-contents (TOC) file or in the area of the audio title set, theaudio data can be easily read out from the audio disc according to theTOC information.

[0026] The second object is achieved by the provision of an audio datatransmitting method, comprising the steps of:

[0027] preparing audio data, audio manager information, audio title setinformation and table-of-contents (TOC) information;

[0028] formatting the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationto arrange the audio data in an audio pack, to arrange the audio managerinformation in an area of an audio manager, to arrange the audio titleset information in an area of an audio title set and to arrange thetable-of-contents (TOC) information in an area reserved for copyrightinformation which is arranged in a control data block formattedaccording to a DVD-ROM standard, in the audio pack, in the area of theaudio manager, in a table-of-contents (TOC) file or in the area of theaudio title set; and

[0029] transmitting the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationthrough a transmission medium.

[0030] In the above steps, the audio data, the audio managerinformation, the audio title set information and the TOC information areformatted and transmitted to a personal computer of a human editorthrough the transmission medium. Therefore, the human editor canprimarily record the audio data in an audio disc such as a DVD-ROM-audiodisc, a DVD-ROM-Van disc or a DVD-ROM-audio disc type 2.

[0031] Accordingly, because the table-of-contents (TOC) information isarranged in an area reserved for copyright information, in the audiopack, in the area of the audio manager, in the table-of-contents (TOC)file or in the area of the audio title set, the audio data can be easilyread out from the audio disc according to the TOC information.

[0032] The third object is achieved by the provision of an audio datarecording method, comprising the steps of:

[0033] preparing audio data, audio manager information, audio title setinformation and table-of-contents (TOC) information;

[0034] formatting the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationto arrange the audio data in an audio pack, to arrange the audio managerinformation in an area of an audio manager, to arrange the audio titleset information in an area of an audio title set and to arrange thetable-of-contents (TOC) information in an area reserved for copyrightinformation which is arranged in a control data block formattedaccording to a DVD-ROM standard, in the audio pack, in the area of theaudio manager, in a table-of-contents (TOC) file or in the area of theaudio title set;

[0035] transmitting the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationthrough a transmission medium;

[0036] receiving the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationthrough the transmission medium; and

[0037] recording the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) information.

[0038] In the above steps, the audio data, the audio managerinformation, the audio title set information and the TOC information areformatted and transmitted to a personal computer of a human editorthrough the transmission medium. When the human editor receives theaudio data, the audio manager information, the audio title setinformation and the TOC information, the human editor records the audiodata, the audio manager information, the audio title set information andthe TOC information.

[0039] Accordingly, in cases where the audio data is primarily recordedin an audio disc such as a DVD-ROM-audio disc, a DVD-ROM-Van disc or aDVD-ROM-audio disc type 2, the audio data can be easily read out fromthe audio disc according to the TOC information.

[0040] The fourth object is achieved by the provision of an audio datadecoding method, comprising the steps of:

[0041] preparing audio data, audio manager information, audio title setinformation, table-of-contents (TOC) information and a decoding program;

[0042] formatting the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information, the table-of-contents (TOC) information andthe decoding program to arrange the audio data in an audio pack, toarrange the audio manager information in an area of an audio manager, toarrange the audio title set information in an area of an audio title setand to arrange the table-of-contents (TOC) information in an areareserved for copyright information which is arranged in a control datablock formatted according to a DVD-ROM standard, in the audio pack, inthe area of the audio manager, in a table-of-contents (TOC) file or inthe area of the audio title set;

[0043] transmitting the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information, the table-of-contents (TOC) information andthe decoding program through a transmission medium;

[0044] receiving the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information, the table-of-contents (TOC) information andthe decoding program through the transmission medium; and

[0045] decoding the audio data, the audio manager information, the audiotitle set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationaccording to the decoding program.

[0046] In the above steps, the audio data, the audio managerinformation, the audio title set information, the table-of-contents(TOC) information and the decoding program are formatted and transmittedto a personal computer of a human editor through the transmissionmedium. When the human editor receives the audio data, the audio managerinformation, the audio title set information, the table-of-contents(TOC) information and the decoding program, the audio data, the audiomanager information, the audio title set information and the TOCinformation are decoded according to the decoding program. Therefore,the audio data, the audio manager information, the audio title setinformation and the TOC information can be recorded in a disc.

[0047] Accordingly, in cases where the audio data is primarily recordedin an audio disc such as a DVD-ROM-audio disc, a DVD-ROM-Van disc or aDVD-ROM-audio disc type 2, the audio data can be easily read out fromthe audio disc according to the TOC information.

[0048] The fifth object is achieved by the provision of an audio discfor recording data at a data format, the data format comprising:

[0049] an audio file, having a file name, for arranging audio data of amusical composition at an audio format; and

[0050] a table-of-contents (TOC) file, having a file name, for arrangingtable-of-contents (TOC) information, which indicates a position of theaudio data arranged in the audio file to play back the audio data from atop position of the musical composition, at a TOC format.

[0051] In the above configuration, when the audio data arranged in theaudio file is played back by using an audio player, because a topposition of the musical composition is specified according to the TOCinformation arranged in the table-of-contents (TOC) file, the audio datais played back from a top position of the musical composition.

[0052] Accordingly, the top position of the musical composition iseasily specified, and a user can entertain the musical composition fromits top position.

[0053] The sixth object is achieved by the provision of an audio datatransmitting method, comprising the steps of:

[0054] arranging audio data of a musical composition at an audio formatas an audio file;

[0055] arranging table-of-contents (TOC) information, which indicates aposition of the audio data to play back the audio data from a topposition of the musical composition, at a TOC format as atable-of-contents (TOC) file; and

[0056] transmitting the audio data of the musical composition and thetable-of-contents (TOC) information through a recording medium or acommunication circuit to record the audio data arranged at the audioformat and the table-of-contents (TOC) information arranged at the TOCformat.

[0057] In the above steps, the audio data of the musical compositionarranged at the audio format and the TOC information arranged at the TOCformat are transmitted to a human editor through a recording medium or acommunication circuit and are recorded in an audio disc. Because the TOCinformation indicates a position of the audio data, when the audio datais read out from the audio disc, a top position of the musicalcomposition is specified according to the TOC information, and the audiodata can be easily played back from a top position of the musicalcomposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0059]FIG. 1A is an explanatory view showing a fundamental format ofdata recorded on the basis of DVD video standards in a DVD-video discaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0060]FIG. 1B is an explanatory view showing a fundamental format ofdata recorded in a DVD-Audio disc according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0061]FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an audio contents block unit(ACBU) shown in FIG. 1B according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0062]FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing in detail a format of theaudio pack (and the video pack) shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B;

[0063]FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing in detail a format of anaudio control (A-CONT) pack shown in FIG. 1B;

[0064]FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing in detail an area of audiocharacter display (ACD) information shown in FIG. 4 according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

[0065]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a music namedisplayed according to information arranged in a name space area shownin FIG. 5;

[0066]FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing in detail a format of anaudio search data (ASD) area shown in FIG. 4 according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0067]FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an audio contents block unit(ACBU) shown in FIG. 1B and a video contents block unit (VCBU) shown inFIG. 1A according to a modification of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0068]FIG. 9A shows a format of data recorded in a DVD-Van (video audionavigation) disc on the basis of the DVD video standards according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

[0069]FIG. 9B is an explanatory view showing a video contents block unit(VCBU) shown in FIG. 9A;

[0070]FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing in detail an area of audiocharacter display (ACD) information arranged in a video manager (VMG)and/or a video title set (VTS) according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0071]FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing in detail a format of anaudio search data (ASD) area arranged in a video manager (VMG) and/or avideo title set (VTS) according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0072]FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing in detail a format of anavigation control pack (CONT pack) shown in FIG. 9;

[0073]FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof PCI data shown in FIG. 12;

[0074]FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof PCI general information (PCI GI) shown in FIG. 13;

[0075]FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof record information (RECI) shown in FIG. 13;

[0076]FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof data search information (DSI) shown in FIG. 12;

[0077]FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof DSI general information (DSI GI) shown in FIG. 16;

[0078]FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof seamless playback information (SML PBI) shown in FIG. 16;

[0079]FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof seamless angle information (SML AGLI) shown in FIG. 16;

[0080]FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing an example of a series ofVOBUs, of which head addresses are described in an area of VOBU searchinformation (VOBU SRI) shown in FIG. 16;

[0081]FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof VOBU search information (VOBU SRI) shown in FIG. 16;

[0082]FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing in detail a configurationof synchronization information (SYNCI) shown in FIG. 16;

[0083]FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of arecording area of a DVD;

[0084]FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of acontrol data block of a read-in area of the DVD shown in FIG. 23;

[0085]FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a sectorof physical format information shown in FIG. 24;

[0086]FIG. 26A shows a format of data recorded in a DVD-Audio disc;

[0087]FIG. 26B shows another format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc;

[0088]FIG. 27A is an explanatory view showing a configuration of TOCinformation recorded in an area (from the sector No. 8 to the sector No.15) of copyright information shown in FIG. 24;

[0089]FIG. 27B is an explanatory view showing a configuration of eachsimple audio play pointer shown in FIG. 27A;

[0090]FIG. 27C is an explanatory view showing another configuration ofeach simple audio play pointer shown in FIG. 27A;

[0091]FIG. 28 is an explanatory view showing a format of a trackattribute (SAPP-ATR) shown in FIG. 27B;

[0092]FIG. 29 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in aDVD-ROM-audio disc type according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0093]FIG. 30 shows a portion of an audio title set (ATS) according tothe third embodiment;

[0094]FIG. 31A is an explanatory view showing a format of data in whichTOC information is recorded in a management area such as AMG or ATSI ofATS or in a pack such as a CONT pack in the DVD-Van disc or theDVD-ROM-audio disc type;

[0095]FIG. 31B is an explanatory view showing a format of data in whichTOC information is recorded in a management area such as AMG or ATSI ofATS or in a pack such as an A pack in the DVD-Audio disc, the DVD-Vandisc or the DVD-ROM-audio disc type;

[0096]FIG. 32 is a block diagram of a signal encoding apparatusaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0097]FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing a data encoding method performedin the signal encoding apparatus shown in FIG. 32;

[0098]FIG. 34 is a block diagram of a signal encoding apparatusaccording to a modification of the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0099]FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing a data encoding method performedin the signal encoding apparatus shown in FIG. 34;

[0100]FIG. 36 is a block diagram of a personal computer of a datareceiving side (or a human editor side) to which audio source (audiodata and video data) and a decoding program prepared according to one ofthe first to third embodiments are transmitted from a data transmittingside (or an encoding apparatus side);

[0101]FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing a processing performed in thepersonal computer shown in FIG. 36;

[0102]FIG. 38 is a block diagram of a network terminal shown in FIG. 36;

[0103]FIG. 39 is a flow chart showing a processing performed in a dataconverting unit of a transmission terminal shown in FIG. 38;

[0104]FIG. 40 is a flow chart showing a processing performed in a dataconverting unit of a reception terminal shown in FIG. 38;

[0105]FIG. 41A shows a processing performed in a data converting unit ofa transmission terminal shown in FIG. 38;

[0106]FIG. 41B shows a processing performed in a data converting unit ofa reception terminal shown in FIG. 38;

[0107]FIG. 42 shows the selection of an optimum route performed in thenetwork NW shown in FIG. 38;

[0108]FIG. 43 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Avd(audio-video data) disc according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0109]FIG. 44 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Avd(audio-video data) disc according to a modification of the fifthembodiment of the present invention;

[0110]FIG. 45 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0111]FIG. 46 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc with musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) data according toa seventh embodiment of the present invention;

[0112]FIG. 47 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; and

[0113]FIG. 48 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0114] Preferred embodiments of a data encoding apparatus, an audio datatransmitting method, an audio data decoding method and an audio datarecording method according to the present invention are described withreference to the drawings.

[0115]FIG. 1A shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-videodisc on the basis of DVD video standards according to a first embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 1B shows a fundamental format of datarecorded in a DVD-Audio disc according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0116] Though area names in a data format of the DVD-video disc differfrom those in a data format of the DVD-Audio disc, the data formats arecompatible with each other.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, a format of data recorded in aDVD-video disc is composed of a video manager (VMG) placed at the toparea of the DVD-video disc and a plurality of video title sets (VTS)following the VMG, and a format of data recorded in a DVD-Audio disc iscomposed of an audio manager (AMG) placed at the top area of theDVD-Audio disc and a plurality of audio title sets (ATS) following theAMG.

[0118] Each VMG includes video manager information (VMGI) for managingthe video title sets (VTS).

[0119] Each VTS is composed of VTS information (VTSI) placed at the toparea of the VTS, one or more video contents block sets (VCBS) followingthe VTSI and a VTS information (VTSI) placed at the final area of theVTS, and each ATS is composed of top ATS information (ATSI) placed inthe top area of the ATS, one or more audio contents block sets (ACBS)and a final ATS information (ATSI) placed in the final area of the ATS.Contents of one musical composition (or contents of one movement of asymphony) is set in the area of each ACBS, and a music play time of themusical composition corresponding to each ACBS is set in the area of thetop ATSI as a piece of table-of-contents (TOC) information.

[0120] Each VCBS is composed of a plurality of video contents block(VCB) respectively corresponding to one title of a video signal, andeach VCB is composed of a plurality of chapters. Each chapter includes apart of title (PTT). Also, each ACBS (or called a title set) is composedof a plurality of audio contents blocks (ACB) respectively correspondingto one title of an audio signal, and each ACB is composed of a pluralityof tracks corresponding to the chapters. Each track includes a part oftitle (PTT).

[0121] Each chapter is composed of a plurality of cells, each cell iscomposed of a plurality of VCB units (VCBU), and each VCBU is composedof a plurality of packs. Also, each track is composed of a plurality ofindexes corresponding to the cells, each index is composed of aplurality of ACB units (ACBU) corresponding to the VCB units, and eachACBU is composed of a plurality of packs. Each pack of the ACBU iscomposed of 2048 bytes, and Each pack of the VCBU is composed of 2048bytes.

[0122] The packs of the VCBU are classified into a navigation controlpack (called a CONT pack) placed in the top area of the VCBU, aplurality of video (V) packs, a plurality of audio (A) packs and aplurality of sub-picture (SP) packs following the CONT pack. Also, thepacks of the ACBU are classified into an audio-control pack (called anA-CONT pack) placed in the top area of the ACBU, a plurality of audio(A) packs and a plurality of video (V) packs following the A-CONT pack.

[0123] In the CONT pack, information for controlling the video packsfollowing the CONT pack is arranged. In the A-CONT pack, information(for example, TOC information arranged in the CD) for managing an audiosignal of the audio packs following the A-CONT pack is arranged. In eachaudio pack, audio data is arranged. In each video pack, video data anddata (for example, closed caption (CC) data) other than the audio dataare arranged.

[0124]FIG. 2 shows the audio contents block unit (ACBU) shown in FIG. 1Baccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0125] As shown in FIG. 2, each video contents block unit (VCBU) iscomposed of a plurality of packs corresponding to a time period rangingfrom 0.4 to 1.0 second (the number of packs is arbitrary), and eachaudio contents block unit (ACBU) is composed of a plurality of packscorresponding to a time period ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 second (thenumber of packs is arbitrary). Also, the A-CONT pack in the ACB unit ofthe DVD-Audio format is arranged as the third pack in the VCB unit ofthe DVD-video format.

[0126] The A-CONT pack is basically arranged for each audio time of 0.5second, and a final A-CONT pack placed in the end portion of each indexis spaced apart from an A-CONT pack adjacent to the final A-CONT pack ata time period ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 second. Also, a group of audioframe units (GOF) corresponding to one audio time is indicated by theACONT pack, and a data position of the A-CONT pack is determined by thenumber of audio frames, the number of first access unit pointers and thenumber of frame headers. Also, it is not required that the A pack justbefore the A-CONT pack is packed at an interval of 0.5 second in theaudio time.

[0127] The ACBU and the VCBU are shown in FIG. 2 to indicate thecompatibility between the DVD-Audio disc and the DVD-video disc. Thatis, in cases where a DVD-Audio disc player is used to play back packsshown in FIG. 2, each VCBU shown in FIG. 2 is disregarded because theDVD-Audio disc player cannot detect the VCBU, and each ACBU is playedback by the DVD-Audio disc player. In contrast, in cases where aDVD-video disc player is used to play back packs shown in FIG. 2, eachACBU shown in FIG. 2 is disregarded because the DVD-video disc playercannot detect the ACBU, and each VCBU is played back by the DVD-videodisc player.

[0128] A pair of audio packs adjacent to each other are arranged tocorrelate audio signals of the audio packs with each other. For example,an audio pack of an L-channel audio signal is adjacent to an audio packof a R-channel audio signal in case of a stereo. Also, a plurality ofadjacent audio packs of audio signals in a multi-channel such as 5channels are arranged to correlate a plurality of audio signals of theadjacent audio packs with each other. In cases where a video isdisplayed when an audio signal is played back, a video pack of the videois arranged in adjacent to an audio pack of the audio signal.

[0129]FIG. 3 shows in detail a format of the audio pack (and the videopack) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 3, in each pack (A pack and V pack), a packheader (14 bytes) composed of pack start information of 4 bytes, systemclock reference (SCR) information of 6 bytes, multiplex (MUX) rateinformation of 3 bytes and a stuffing of 1 byte is added to user data(audio data of the pack or video data of the pack) of 2034 bytes.Therefore, each pack (A pack and V pack) has 2048 bytes. In this case,the SCR information denoting a time stamp is set to “1” in the top packof each ACB unit corresponding to one title, and the values of the SCRinformation in the packs of the same title are consecutively changed.Therefore, the playback time for the A packs in the same title can bemanaged.

[0131]FIG. 4 shows in detail a format of an audio control (A-CONT) packshown in FIG. 1B.

[0132] In contrast, as shown in FIG. 4, each A-CONT pack is composed ofa back header of 14 bytes, a system header of 24 bytes, an audiocharacter display (ACD) packet of 1003 bytes and an audio search data(ASD) packet of 1007 bytes arranged in that order. Also, the ACD packetis composed of a packet header of 6 bytes, sub-stream identificationdata of 1 byte, audio character display (ACD) information of 636 bytes(shown in FIG. 5 in detail) and a reserved area of 360 bytes arranged inthat order. The audio character display (ACD) information indicatesdisplay characters (or a display text) relating to audio data of theaudio (A) packs following the A-CONT -pack, and the display charactersindicated by the audio character display (ACD) information are displayedwhile playing back the audio data of the A packs. Also, the ASD packetis composed of a packet header of 6 bytes, sub-stream identificationdata of 1 byte and audio search data (ASD) of 1000 bytes (shown in FIG.7 in detail) arranged in that order. The audio search data (ASD) denotesdisplay time control data for controlling a display time of the displaycharacters indicated by the audio character display (ACD) information.

[0133]FIG. 5 shows in detail an area of the audio character display(ACD) information according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 5, an area of the ACD information is composed ofan area (48 bytes) for general information, an area (294 bytes) forcharacters C1 (or a text) of a first language and an area (294 bytes)for characters C2 (or a text) of a second language. Each character areais composed of an area (93 bytes) of a name space, two areas of two freespaces respectively having 93 bytes and an area (15 bytes) of a datapointer.

[0135]FIG. 6 shows an example of a music name displayed according toinformation arranged in the name space area.

[0136] Title information indicating a music name expressed in Japaneseis arranged in one of the name space areas of the characters C1 and C2,so that the music name is, for example, displayed in Japanese as shownin FIG. 6. Also, title information indicating the music name expressedin English is arranged in the other name space area, so that the musicname is displayed in English as shown in FIG. 6. It is applicable thatthe information be set by a disc selling agency.

[0137] The general information of 48 bytes is, for example, composed ofservice level information of 16 bytes, language code information of 12bytes, character set code information of 6 bytes, display iteminformation of 6 bytes, “difference of ACD information from previous ACDinformation” information of 2 bytes and reserve information of 6 bytes.The service level information of 16 bytes indicates a display size ofthe title information, a display type of the title information, adistinction between audio information, video information and sub-picture(SP) information, and an audio stream. Also, the characters of the titleinformation is mandatory, and a bit map of the title information isoptional. In the language code information of 12 bytes, the firstlanguage and the second language are respectively indicated by alanguage code of 2 bytes in the same manner as in a video file, and thelanguage code information can indicate a maximum of 8 languages. Englishis mandatory.

[0138] As the character set code information of 6 bytes, a maximum of 15character codes corresponding to the language codes can be arranged. Theexistence of the characters C1 or C2 in one language and a type of thelanguage are indicated by a character code of 1 byte. For example,character codes IS0646, IS08859-1 and MS-JIS are used.

[0139] The display item information of 6 bytes indicates the existenceof data arranged in each free space, the existence of data arranged inthe data pointer and an identifier. Data arranged in the name space ismandatory, and a title name, a music name and an artist name arenecessarily written.

[0140]FIG. 7 shows in detail a format of the audio search data (ASD)area according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 7, the audio search data (ASD) of 1000 bytes iscomposed of general information of 16 bytes, current number informationof 8 bytes, current date and time information of 16 bytes, title setsearch information of 8 bytes, title search information of 8 bytes,track search information of 404 bytes, index search information of 408bytes, highlight search information of 80 bytes and a reserved area of52 bytes.

[0142] The current number information of 8 bytes is composed of acurrent title number (2 bytes: BCD) in a title set, a current tracknumber (2 bytes: BCD) in the title set, a current index number (2 bytes:BCD) in a track and a reserved area (2 bytes). The current date and timeinformation of 16 bytes is composed of a playback time (4 bytes: BCD) inthe track, a playback time (4 bytes: BCD) in the remaining portion ofthe track, an absolute time (4 bytes: BCD) in a title and an absolutetime (4 bytes: BCD) in the remaining portion of the title.

[0143] The title set search information of 8 bytes is composed of a topsector number (4 bytes) of the title set and a final sector number (4bytes) of the title set. The title set search information of 8 bytes iscomposed of a top sector number (4 bytes) of one title and a finalsector number (4 bytes) of the title. The track search information of404 bytes is composed of track and sector numbers (4 bytes*99) of onetitle, a top track number (4 bytes) of the title and a final tracknumber (4 bytes) of the title.

[0144] The index search information of 408 bytes is composed of indexand sector numbers (4 bytes*100) of one track, a top index number (4bytes) of the track and a final index number (4 bytes) of the track. Thehighlight search information of 80 bytes is composed of a plurality ofin-sector numbers (4 bytes*100) of one track and a plurality ofout-sector numbers (4 bytes*100) of the track.

[0145] In the above DVD-Audio format of the DVD-Audio disc, because theA-CONT pack of the DVD-Audio format is arranged at the top portion ofeach ACBU in the same manner as the TOC information of the CD to managean audio signal of a group of A packs following the A-CONT pack, audiodata packed in the A packs is not integrated with video data of V packs.Therefore, the audio data is arranged independent of the video data, sothat a memory capacity for the audio data can be sufficiently obtained.

[0146] Also, an audio playback time of the audio data can be managedaccording to audio control data of the A-CONT pack, and information ofsimple characters such as a music name relating to the audio data can beeasily extracted from the ACD area of the A-CONT pack and can bedisplayed.

[0147] Also, TOC information such as information of a title, informationof a start address, information of a music play time and the like isarranged in the A-CONT pack, even though the playback of the audio datais continued, the information corresponding to a user's operation can beextracted from the TOC information of the A-CONT pack, and thereproduction of the extracted information can be started. Therefore, theextracted information can be displayed while the user entertains amusical composition.

[0148] Also, in cases where the TOC information is arranged in audiomanager information (AMGI) of the audio manager (AMG) or in the audiotitle set information (ATSI), the TOC information is stored in a memoryof a disc playback apparatus, the information corresponding to a user'soperation can be immediately extracted from the memory according to theTOC information, and the reproduction of the extracted information canbe started.

[0149] Also, though a large capacity of information like program chaininformation (PGCI) is usually recorded in the DVD-video disc, because itis not required to record a large capacity of information like programchain information (PGCI) in the DVD-Audio disc, the DVD-Audio disc canbe efficiently managed.

[0150] Also, in cases where any video (V) data is not arranged in ACBS,three effects can be obtained. That is, a search operation and a randomaccess operation for three hierarchies composed of the title, themusical composition and the index can be performed (first effect). Thedetection of a top portion of each audio frame unit of the GOF, a timesearch and a random access can be performed (second effect). A time forplaying back each title, a time for playing back each musicalcomposition and a time for playing back each index can be managed inreal time (third effect).

[0151] Also, in cases where video (V) data is arranged in the ACBS, theabove first to third effects can be obtained for the audio data, and acurrent time and a remaining time can be displayed and managed in realtime for the audio data during the reproduction of each title or musicalcomposition (fourth effect).

[0152] Also, in cases where video (V) data is arranged in the ACBS,following effects can be obtained for the video data. A search operationand a random access operation for three hierarchies composed of thetitle, the PTT and the cell can be performed (first effect for the videodata). The detection of a top portion of each video frame unit, a timesearch and a random access can be performed (second effect for the videodata). A time for displaying each title, a time for displaying each PTTand a time for displaying each cell can be managed in real time (thirdeffect for the video data). A current time and a remaining time can bedisplayed and managed in video frame unit time during the reproductionof each title or PTT (fourth effect for the video data).

[0153] In this embodiment, each ACBU shown in FIG. 2 includes one V packand one CONT pack. However, as shown in FIG. 8, it is applicable thateach ACBU does not include any CONT pack or V pack. In this case, thoughany video signal is not recorded in the DVD-Audio disc, a recordingcapacity for the audio signal in the DVD-Audio disc can be increased, sothat a size of the DVD-Audio disc can be made small. Also, because aplayback mechanism in a disc playback apparatus can be simplified, aDVD-Audio disc suitable for a portable type disc playback apparatus canbe obtained.

[0154] Next, a second embodiment is described.

[0155]FIG. 9A shows a format of data recorded in a DVD-Van (video-audionavigation) disc on the basis of the DVD video standards according to asecond embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9B shows a videocontents block unit (VCBU) shown in FIG. 9A according to the secondembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is an explanatory viewshowing in detail an area of audio character display (ACD) informationaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11is an explanatory view showing in detail a format of an audio searchdata (ASD) area according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0156] In the first embodiment, when pieces of audio data of the A packsrecorded in the DVD-Audio disc are played back in a DVD-Audio discplayer (or an audio data playback apparatus), the playback of the audiodata is controlled according to the audio search data (ASD) of theA-CONT pack shown in detail in FIG. 7. That is, when pieces of audiodata of the A packs are successively played back in a seamless playback,the playback of the audio data is controlled according to the currentnumber and the current time of the audio search data (ASD). In contrast,when pieces of audio data of the A packs are intermittently played backin a jump playback, the playback of the audio data is controlledaccording to search information such as title set search information,title search information, track search information, index searchinformation and highlight search information in the audio search data(ASD).

[0157] In contrast, in the second embodiment, to play back pieces ofaudio data and video data recorded in a DVD-Van (video-audio navigation)disc by using a DVD-video disc player, a format (shown in FIG. 9A) ofdata recorded in a DVD-Van disc is based on the DVD video standardsshown in FIG. 1A. That is, as shown in FIG. 9B, each video contentsblock unit (VCBU) does not include any A-CONT pack, and each videocontents block unit (VCBU) is composed of one CONT pack placed in thetop area of the VCBU, a comparatively large number of A packs and acomparatively small number of v packs and corresponds to a time periodranging from 0.4 to 1.0 second (the number of packs is arbitrary). Also,each audio contents block unit (ACBU) is composed of one A pack, whichis placed in the top area of the ACBU and succeeds one V pack of theVCBU, a comparatively large number of A packs and a comparatively smallnumber of V packs and corresponds to a time period ranging from 0.4 to1.0 second (the number of packs is arbitrary). In cases where aDVD-video disc player is used to play back packs shown in FIG. 9B, eachACBU shown in FIG. 9B is disregarded because the DVD-video disc playercannot detect the ACBU, and each VCBU is played back by the DVD-videodisc player. Here, VCBU is also called VOBU on the basis of the DVDvideo standards.

[0158] Because each ACBU does not include any A-CONT pack, a packet ofthe audio character display (ACD) information and a packet of the audiosearch data (ASD) arranged in each A-CONT pack in the first embodimentare arranged in each video manager (VMG) and/or each video title set(VTS) shown in FIG. 9A. Or, as shown in FIG. 9A, an audio manager AMG isadditionally arranged with each VMG, an audio title set (ATSI) isadditionally arranged with each VTS, and a packet of the audio characterdisplay (ACD) information and a packet of the audio search data (ASD)arranged in each A-CONT pack in the first embodiment are arranged ineach AMG and each ATS. The AMG and ATS additionally arranged have thesame function as those shown in FIG. 1B.

[0159] Also, because a packet of the audio character display (ACD)information is arranged in the A-CONT pack, which is arranged for eachACBU (a time period ranging from 0.4 to 1.0 second), in the firstembodiment, audio character display information for many display imagescan be recorded. However, in the second embodiment, because a packet ofthe audio character display (ACD) information is arranged in each videomanager (VMG) and/or each video title set (VTS), a volume of the ACDinformation recorded in the audio disc is limited. Accordingly, a titlename of each musical composition or the like is recorded as audiocharacter display (ACD) information because a data volume of the titlename is low. Also, only one piece of audio playback control informationdescribed later is arranged in a packet of the audio character display(ACD) information.

[0160] Also, the audio character display (ACD) information has data ofthe characters C1 of the first language and data of the characters C2 ofthe second language in the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG.10, it is applicable that audio playback control information of 294bytes be arranged in place of the data of the characters C2 of thesecond language. Therefore, an area of the audio character display (ACD)information is composed of an area of the general information (48bytes), an area of the data of the characters C1 of the first language,for example, indicating “audio navigation” such as a name of a musicalcomposition (294 bytes) and an area of the audio playback controlinformation (294 bytes).

[0161] Contents of the audio playback control information are arbitrary.For example, the area of the audio playback control information (294bytes) is composed of areas of 10 types of audio playback controlinformation respectively having 25 bytes and a reserved area (44 bytes).These types of audio playback control information are selected by a userto control a sound quality of the played-back audio signal. These typesof audio playback control information are recommended by professionalhuman mixers and are determined to set a sound quality of an audiosignal in a playback operation to a best condition according to a musiccategory (for example, classic, jazz, rock or background music) of theaudio signal, a playing condition of the music, a recording condition ofthe audio signal or circumstances of a playback condition in cases wherethe user plays back the music of the audio signal arranged in the Apacks. In the reserved area, a plurality of mixing coefficients arearranged. In cases where the number of channels for the audio signal is6, the number of channels is mix-downed to 2 by using the mixingcoefficients, so that the audio signal can be played back in stereo.

[0162] When pieces of audio data of a series of A packs are played backin a seamless playback, the seamless playback is performed according toinformation of a CONT pack. Therefore, a group of the current numberinformation (8 bytes) and the current time information (16 bytes)arranged in the audio search data (ASD) according to the firstembodiment is not required. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the area ofthe current number information, the area of the current time informationand the reserved area (52 bytes) arranged in the audio search data (ASD)shown in FIG. 7 are replaced with a reserved area (76 bytes) in thesecond embodiment. In this case, because any current number informationor any current time information is not arranged in the audio search data(ASD), a display operation or a playback control cannot be minutelyperformed. However, data recorded in the DVD-Van disc can be played backby using a DVD-video disc player. Therefore, in a transition periodbefore a steady period in which data recorded in the audio disc cannotbe played back by using a DVD-video disc player but can be played backby using a DVD-Audio disc player, the DVD-van disc, in which datareproducible by using a DVD-video disc player is recorded, is useful.

[0163] Next, the configuration of information packed in the CONT pack isdescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 12.

[0164]FIG. 12 shows in detail a configuration of a navigation controlpack (CONT pack).

[0165] As shown in FIG. 12, the CONT pack, called a navigation controlpack in the DVD video standards, is composed of a pack header of 14bytes, a system header of 24 bytes, a presentation control information(PCI) packet of 986 bytes and a data search information (DSI) packet of1024 bytes. The PCI is called playback control information, and the PCIpacket is composed of a packet header of 6 bytes, a sub-streamidentification (ID) of 1 byte and PCI data of 979 bytes. The DSI packetis composed of a packet header of 6 bytes, a substream identification(ID) of 1 byte and DSI data of 1017 bytes.

[0166]FIG. 13 shows in detail a configuration of the PCI data.

[0167] As shown in FIG. 13, the PCI data, which denotes navigation datafor controlling the reproduction of the corresponding VOBU, is composedof PCI general information (PCI-GI) of 60 bytes, a non-seamless angleinformation (NSML-AGLI) of 36 bytes, highlight information (HLI) of 694bytes and record information (RECI) of 189 bytes.

[0168]FIG. 14 shows in detail a configuration of the PCI generalinformation (PCI GI).

[0169] As shown in FIG. 14, the PCI general information (PCI GI) of thePCI data is composed of “LBN of the navigation control pack (CONT pack)”(NV PCK LBN) of 4 bytes, “category of the VOBU” (VOBU CAT) of 2 bytes, areserved area of 2 bytes, “user operation control information of theVOBU” (VOBU UOP CTL) of 4 bytes, “start PTM of the VOBU” (VOBU S PTM) of4 bytes, “end PTM of the VOBU” (VOBU E PTM) of 4 bytes, “end PTM of thesequence end in the VOBU” (VOBU SES PTM) of 4 bytes, “elapsed time in acell” (C ELTM) of 4 bytes, and a reserved area of 32 bytes.

[0170] In the “LBN of the navigation control pack” (NV PCK LBN), anaddress of the navigation control pack, in which the PCI is included, isdescribed from the top LB of the VOBS, in which the PCI is included, inRLBN. Also, in the “category of the VOBU” (VOBU CAT), conditions ofanalog protection system (APS) of the VOBU are described.

[0171] The non-seamless angle information (NSML AGLI) shown in FIG. 13denotes information relating to a changed address in an angle change andis effective in cases where an angle cell change is changed to anon-seamless, that is, a seamless angle change flag is set in anon-seamless. The highlight information (HLI) shown in FIG. 13 denotesinformation for highlighting a rectangular area of a sub-picture displayarea, and a mixing ratio (or a contrast) of a video color and asub-picture color in a special rectangular area can be changed accordingto the highlight information. Also, a play time period of a sub-pictureunit (SPU) of each sub-picture stream is the same as an effective timeperiod of the highlight information (HLI).

[0172]FIG. 15 shows in detail a configuration of the record information(RECI).

[0173] As shown in FIG. 15, the record information (RECI) shown in FIG.13 is composed of “ISRC of video data in a video stream” (ISRC V) of 10bytes, “ISRC of audio data in a decoding audio stream #0” (ISRC A0) of10 bytes, “ISRC of audio data in a decoding audio stream #1” (ISRC A1)of 10 bytes, “ISRC of audio data in a decoding audio stream #2” (ISRCA2) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of audio data in a decoding audio stream #3”(ISRC A3) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of audio data in a decoding audio stream#4” (ISRC A4) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of audio data in a decoding audiostream #5” (ISRC A5) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of audio data in a decodingaudio stream #6” (ISRC A6) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of audio data in adecoding audio stream #7” (ISRC A7) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of sub-picture(SP) data in a decoding SP stream #0, #8, #16 or #24” (ISRC SPO) of 10bytes, “ISRC of SP data in a decoding SP stream #1, #9, #17 or #25”(ISRC SP1) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of SP data in a decoding SP stream #2,#10, #18 or #226” (ISRC SP2) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of SP data in a decodingSP stream #3, #11, #19 or #27” (ISRC SP3) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of SP datain a decoding SP stream #4, #12, #20 or #28” (ISRC SP4) of 10 bytes,“ISRC of SP data in a decoding SP stream #5, #13, #21 or #29” (ISRC SP5)of 10 bytes, “ISRC of SP data in a decoding SP stream #6, #14, #22 or#30” (ISRC SP6) of 10 bytes, “ISRC of SP data in a decoding SP stream#7, #15, #23 or #31” (ISRC SP7) of 10 bytes, “a group of SP streamsselected for the ISRC” (ISRC SP SEL) of 1 byte, and a reserved area of18 bytes.

[0174]FIG. 16 shows in detail a configuration of the data searchinformation (DSI) shown in FIG. 12.

[0175] As shown in FIG. 16, the data search information (DSI), whichdenotes navigation data used to search data and to perform the seamlessplayback of the VCBU, is composed of DSI general information (DSI GI) of32 bytes, seamless playback information (SML PBI) of 148 bytes, seamlessangle information (SML AGLI) of 54 bytes, VOBU search information (VDBUSRI) of 168 bytes, synchronization information (SYNCI) of 144 bytes anda reserved area of 471 bytes.

[0176]FIG. 17 shows in detail a configuration of the DSI generalinformation (DSI GI).

[0177] As shown in FIG. 17, the DSI general information (DSI GI) iscomposed of “system clock reference (SCR) base of the navigation controlpack” (NV PCK SCR) of 4 bytes, “LBN of the navigation control pack” (NVPCK LBN) of 4 bytes, “end address of VOBU” (VOBU EA) of 4 bytes, “endaddress of a first reference picture of VOBU” (VOBU ISTREF EA) of 4bytes, “end address of a second reference picture of VOBU” (VOBU 2NDREFEA) of 4 bytes, “end address of a third reference picture of VOBU” (VOBU3RDREF EA) of 4 bytes, “VOB ID number of VOBU” (VOBU VOB IDN) of 2bytes, a reserved area of 1 byte, “cell ID number of VOBU” (VOBU C IDN)of 1 byte, and “cell elapsed time” (C ELTM) of 4 bytes.

[0178]FIG. 18 shows in detail a configuration of the seamless playbackinformation (SML PBI) shown in FIG. 16.

[0179] As shown in FIG. 18, the seamless playback information (SML PBI)is composed of “category of seamless VOBU” (VOBU SML CAT) of 2 bytes,“end address of an inter-leaved unit” (ILVU EA) of 4 bytes, “startaddress of a next inter-leaved unit” (NXT ILVU SA) of 4 bytes, “size ofthe next inter-leaved unit” (NXT ILVU SZ) of 4 bytes, “start PTM ofvideo in VOB” (VOB V S PTM) of 4 bytes, “end PTM of video in VOB” (VOB VE PTM) of 4 bytes, and “end PTM of audio in VOB” (VOB A STP PTM) of 8bytes*8, “gap length of audio in VOB” (VOB A GAP LEN) of 8 bytes*8.

[0180]FIG. 19 shows in detail a configuration of the seamless angleinformation (SML AGLI) shown in FIG. 16.

[0181] As shown in FIG. 19, the seamless angle information (SML AGLI)denotes information relating to a changed address in an angle change andis effective in cases where an angle change is performed in seamless,,that is, in cases where a seamless angle change flag is set in a“seamless”.

[0182]FIG. 20 shows an example of a series of VOBUs, of which headaddresses are described in an area of the VOBU search information (VOBUSRI) shown in FIG. 16.

[0183] As shown in FIG. 20, a head address of a VOBU to be played backat 0.5*N seconds after a playback start time of a VOBU including the DSIin a cell is described in the VOBU search information (VOBU SRI). Also,a head address of a VOBU to be played back at 0.5*N seconds before aplayback start time of the VOBU including the DSI in the cell isdescribed in the VOBU search information (VOBU SRI). The VOBU searchinformation (VOBU SRI) is effective only in the corresponding cell.

[0184]FIG. 21 shows in detail a configuration of the VOBU searchinformation (VOBU SRI) shown in FIG. 16.

[0185] As shown in FIG. 21, the VOBU search information (VOBU SRI) iscomposed of “head address of a next VOBU having video data” (FWDI VIDEO)of 4 bytes, “+240 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 240)of 4 bytes, “+120 VOBU head address .and video existence flag” (FWDI120) of 4 bytes, “+60 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI60) of 4 bytes, “+20 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI20) of 4 bytes, “+15 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI15) of 4 bytes, “+14 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI14) of 4 bytes, “+13 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI13) of 4 bytes, “+12 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI12) of 4 bytes, “+11 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI11) of 4 bytes, “+10 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI10) of 4 bytes, “+9 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 9)of 4 bytes, “+8 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 8) of4 bytes, “+7 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 7) of 4bytes, “+6 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 6) of 4bytes, “+5 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 5) of 4bytes, “+4 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 4) of 4bytes, “+3 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 3) of 4bytes, “+2 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 2) of 4bytes, “+1 VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI 1) of 4bytes, “next VOBU head address and video existence flag” (FWDI Next) of4 bytes, “previous' VOBU head address and video existence flag” (BWDIPrev) of 4 bytes, “−1 VOBU head address and video existence flag”(BWDI 1) of 4 bytes, “−2 VOBU head address and video existence flag”(BWDI 2) of 4 bytes, “−3 VOBU head address and video existence flag”(BWDI 3) of 4 bytes, “−4 VOBU head address and video existence flag”(BWDI 4) of 4 bytes, “−5 VOBU head address and video existence flag”(BWDI 5) of 4 bytes, “−6 VOBU head address and video existence flag”(BWDI 6) of 4 bytes, “−7 VOBU head address and video existence flag”(BWDI 7) of 4 bytes, “−8 VOBU head address and video existenceflag”.(BWDI 8) of 4 bytes, “−9 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 9) of 4 bytes, “−10 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 10) of 4 bytes, “−11 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 11) of 4 bytes, “−12 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 12) of 4 bytes, “−13 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 13) of 4 bytes, “−14 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 14) of 4 bytes, “−15 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 15) of 4 bytes, “−20 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 20) of 4 bytes, “−60 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 60) of 4 bytes, “−120 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 120) of 4 bytes, “−240 VOBU head address and video existenceflag” (BWDI 240) of 4 bytes, and “head address of a previous VOBU havingvideo data” (BWDI VIDEO) of 4 bytes.

[0186]FIG. 22 shows in detail a configuration of the synchronizationinformation (SYNCI) shown in FIG. 16.

[0187] As shown in FIG. 22, the synchronization information (SYNCI),which denotes.pieces of address information of audio data andsub-picture data played back in synchronization with the video data ofthe VOBU including the DSI, is composed of “addresses of audio packs (APCK)” (A SYNCA 0 to 7) of 2 bytes*8, and “head addresses of VOBUs forsub-picture packs (SP PCK)” (SP SYNCA 0 to 31) of 4 bytes*32.

[0188] Next, a disc identification according to the first and secondembodiments is described.

[0189]FIG. 23 shows a configuration of a recording area of a DVD.

[0190] As shown in FIG. 23, a recording area of a DVD comprises aread-in area and a data area. The read-in area of the DVD comprises allblocks of 00h from a read-in start block to a block just before a sectornumber “02F000h”, a reference code block corresponding to 2 blocks fromthe sector number “02F000h” to a block just before a sector number“02F020h”, all 30 blocks of 00h from the sector number “02F020h” to ablock just before a sector number “02F200h”, a control data blockcorresponding to 192 blocks from the sector number “02F200h” to a blockjust before a sector number “02FE00h”, and all 32 blocks of 00h from thesector number “02FE00h” to a block just before a sector number“030000h”.

[0191] Also, the data area of the DVD comprises blocks starting from thesector number “030000h”, character codes ISO 9660 and micro universaldisc format (UDF) data are recorded in the data area, and an audio titleset (TS), a video TS, a computer TS and the like are recorded in thedata area.

[0192]FIG. 24 shows a configuration of the control data block of theread-in area of the DVD shown in FIG. 23.

[0193] As shown in FIG. 24, physical format information is recorded in asector (a sector No. 0) of the control data block, disc productioninformation is recorded in a sector (a sector No. 1) of the control datablock, and copyright information is recorded in a plurality of sectors(from a sector No. 2 to a sector No. 15) of the control data block. Anempty area, in which the copyright information is not recorded, existsin the sectors No. 2 to No. 15.

[0194]FIG. 25 shows a configuration of the sector of the physical formatinformation.

[0195] As shown in FIG. 25, the sector of the physical formatinformation comprises an area of a book type and a part version, an areaof a disc size and a minimum read-out rate, an area of a disc structure,an area of a recording density and an area of a data area allocation.The area of a book type and a part version is allocated as a discidentification. That is, upper bits of the disc identification indicatesa DVD-ROM disc, a DVD-RAM disc or a DVD-write once disc. In cases wherethe upper bits indicates the DVD-ROM disc, lower bits of the discidentification indicates a computer program disc, a pure video disc, avideo-audio navigation disc: Van-disc, an audio disc or an audio disctype 2.

[0196] Therefore, a disc identification indicating the DVD-ROM-audiodisc is described in the disc corresponding to the first embodimentaccording to the book type and the part version. Also, a discidentification indicating the DVD-ROM-Van-disc is described in the disccorresponding to the second embodiment according to the book type andthe part version.

[0197] Also, though any TOC information, for example, indicating a topaddress of a musical composition (or a movement of a symphony) is notrecorded in the read-in area of the DVD-ROM-pure video disc, the TOCinformation, for example, indicating a top address of a musicalcomposition (or a movement of a symphony) is recorded in the read-inarea of the DVD-ROM-audio disc corresponding to the first embodiment andin the read-in area of the DVD-ROM-Van-disc corresponding to the secondembodiment.

[0198] Accordingly, because the number of A packs is larger than thenumber of V packs in each VOBU, in cases where video data of the V packsis reproduced on a display, static pictures or a moving picture movedslightly are displayed. However, because audio data of the A packs ofeach VOBU is played back according to information of the CONT pack basedon the DVD video standards, the audio data of the A packs can be playedback by using a DVD-video disc player.

[0199] In cases where audio data of A packs is recorded in ahierarchical structure composed of title, track and index to search theA packs for the audio data or in cases where audio data of A packs canbe accessed at random, the audio data can be easily played back.However, there is a problem that the recording of the TOC informationindicating a position of the audio data in the disc is complicated.Also, in cases where a simple playback of the audio data is performed byusing the TOC information, unless a sampling frequency of the audio datais specified, the audio data cannot be played back. In cases where theTOC information is recorded in the read-in area, which is adopted in theDVD-video disc, of the DVD-Audio disc or the DVD-Van disc, unless theTOC information recorded in the DVD-Audio disc or the DVD-Van disc iscompatible with the TOC information recorded in the DVD-video disc andis easily accessed, it is difficult to widely spread the DVD-Audio discor the DVD-Van disc in which the audio data is recorded with the TOCinformation.

[0200] To avoid the above problems, a DVD-Audio disc having ahierarchical structure to present the contents in a DVD-Audio zone isdescribed with reference to FIG. 26A.

[0201]FIG. 26A shows a format of data recorded in a DVD-Audio disc.

[0202] As shown in FIG. 26A, a DVD-Audio disc has a navigationinformation of a hierarchical structure to present the contents in aDVD-Audio zone, which is composed of Album, Group, Audio Title (ATT),Track and Index. The navigation information is a kind of TOC informationand is sometimes called TOC information. As shown in FIG. 31B by asymbol “TOC”, the navigation information called TOC information may beplaced in the AMG and the ATSI. In this presentation structure, Groupand Track shall be accessible by User, and Album and Index may beaccessed by User. The ATT is used only as the internal logical unit topresent the contents. An Album is a Volume. The contents in theDVD-Audio disc are recorded in either one side or two sides, but eachside shall have one Volume. A Group is a Title Group (TT GR) andcontains one or more Audio Title(s). ATTs within the same Title Groupshall guarantee the continuous presentation.

[0203] Audio data of a musical composition (or a movement of a symphony)is arranged for each Track, so that TOC information is prepared for eachTrack. Also, because a plurality of Tracks are arranged in the order ofarranging the ATTs, pieces of TOC information are prepared in the orderof arranging the Audio Titles (ATTs), so that the audio data recorded inthe DVD-Audio disc can be efficiently managed. The pieces of TOCinformation are also called TOC information for convenience.

[0204] Also, a sampling frequency of the audio data or the number ofquantization bits in the audio data is arranged in the TOC informationfor each track, a simple playback of the audio data can be easilyperformed by using the TOC information.

[0205] Also, the TOC information is additionally recorded in an emptyarea (or a reserved area) of the copyright information which is recordedin the control data block of the read-in area adopted in the DVD-videodisc. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, because an area from the sectorNo. 2 to the sector No. 15 in the control data block of the read-in areaof a DVD is reserved in advance for the copyright information, the TOCinformation is recorded in an empty area (or a reserved area) from thesector No. 8 to the sector No. 15. In this case, the copyrightinformation is recorded in an area from the sector No. 2 to the sectorNo. 7.

[0206]FIG. 27A shows a configuration of TOC information recorded in thearea (from the sector No. 8 to the sector No. 15) of the copyrightinformation shown in FIG. 24.

[0207] As shown in FIG. 27A, TOC information, which is called a simpleaudio play pointer (SAPP), comprises simple audio play pointer tableinformation (SAPPTI) of 16 bytes, and simple audio play pointers #1 to#n (SAPP #1 to #n) of 48*n bytes. The simple audio play pointer tableinformation (SAPPTI) comprises an SAPPTI identifier of 12 bytes, thenumber of SAPPs of 2 bytes and an SAPPTI end address of 2 bytes. Eachsimple audio play pointer (SAPP) denotes TOC information for the trackpointed by the SAPP.

[0208]FIG. 27B shows a configuration of each simple audio play pointer.

[0209] As shown in FIG. 27B, each simple audio play pointer (SAPP)comprises a group of the SAPP (1 byte), a track No. of the SAPP (1byte), a start presentation time of the first cell in the track pointedby the SAPP (4 bytes), a playback time of the track pointed by the SAPP(4 bytes), a pause time of the track pointed by the SAPP (4 bytes), anattribute (SAPP-ATR) of the track pointed by the SAPP (4 bytes), areserved area (18 bytes), a start address of the track pointed by theSAPP (4 bytes), a start address of the first cell of the track pointedby the SAPP (4 bytes), and an end address of the track pointed by theSAPP (4 bytes).

[0210] In FIG. 26A, the hierarchical structure in the navigationinformation called TOC information is composed of Album, Group, AudioTitle (ATT), Track and Index. However, as shown in FIG. 26B, it isapplicable that the hierarchical structure in the navigation informationcalled TOC information be composed of Album, Audio Title Set (ATS),Audio Title (ATT), Track and Index. In this case, a configuration ofeach simple audio play pointer is shown in FIG. 27C.

[0211]FIG. 28 shows a format of the track attribute (SAPP-ATR). As shownin FIG. 28, the format of the track attribute (SAPP-ATR) is described ina direction from the most significant bit (MSB) to the least significantbit (LSB). The track attribute (SAPP-ATR) is composed of the number ofquantization bits of 4 bits (b23 to b20), a sampling frequency Fs of 4bits (b15 to b12) and a decoding audio stream number of 3 bits (b7 to5). Pieces of information of the simple audio play pointers #1 to #n(SAPP #1 to #n) are recorded in track portions, which are obtained bydividing a track (or a movement) into n pieces, with an album numberbelonging to the track.

[0212] Next, a third embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 29and FIG. 30.

[0213]FIG. 29 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in aDVD-ROM-audio disc type 2 according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 30 shows a portion of an audio title set (ATS)according to the third embodiment.

[0214] As shown in FIG. 29, data to be reproduced by using a DVD-videodisc player is recorded in a DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2 as DVD-video dataof a video title set (VTS) at a video format, and data to be played backby using a DVD-Audio disc player is recorded in the DVD-ROM-Audio disctype 2 as DVD-Audio data of an audio title set (ATS) at an audio format.

[0215] The DVD-video data recorded at the video format comprises a videomanager (VMG) shown in FIG. 1A, a video manager menu (VMGM)corresponding to video data and audio data relating to the video data,and a video title set (VTS <1>) managed by video manager information(VMGI) of the VMG. In the VTS <1>, video data and audio data relating tothe video data are arranged.

[0216] The DVD-Audio data recorded at the audio format comprises anaudio manager (AMG) shown in FIG. 1B, an audio manager menu (AMGM)corresponding to video data and audio data relating to the video data, afirst audio title set (ATS <1>) managed by audio manager information(AMGI) of the AMG and a second audio title set (ATS <2>) managed by theaudio manager information (AMGI) of the AMG. In the ATS <1>, audio datais arranged, and contents of the audio data of the ATS <1> is the sameas contents of the audio data of the VTS <1>. That is, the audio data isrecorded not only at the video format but also at the audio format. Inthe ATS <2>, audio data is arranged, and contents of the audio data ofthe ATS <2> differs from contents of the audio data of the VTS <1>. Thedetail of the ATS <1> and ATS <2> is shown in FIG. 30.

[0217] Also, as shown in FIG. 30, the ATS <2> do not have any A-CONTpack, but the ATS <2> has A packs for each cell (or index).

[0218] In addition, a program executed in a computer is recorded in theDVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2 as a computer program title set (CTS)

[0219] In this embodiment, the VTS <1> is arranged in the DVD-ROM-Audiodisc type 2. However, it is applicable that the VTS <1> be omitted fromthe DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2.

[0220] Data recorded in a read-in area of the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2is the same as that recorded in the DVD-Van disc according to the secondembodiment except that a disc identifier indicating “DVD-ROM-Audio disctype 2” is recorded in the read-in area of the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2as “book type, part version” of the physical format information (referto FIG. 25). Therefore, data recorded in the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2cannot be played back by using a DVD-video disc player, but can beplayed back by using a special disc player. However, because the TOCinformation is additionally recorded in an empty area of the copyrightinformation of the control data block recorded in the read-in area whichis adopted in the DVD-video disc, a simple playback can be performed.Also, pieces of TOC information are prepared in the order of arrangingthe Audio Titles (ATTS) in the same manner as in the second embodiment,so that the data recorded in the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2 can beefficiently managed. Also, in cases where a sampling frequency of theaudio data or the number of quantization bits in the audio data isincluded in the TOC information for each track, a simple playback of theaudio data can be easily performed by using the TOC information.

[0221] In the first to third embodiments, the TOC information isrecorded in the read-in area. However, as shown in FIG. 31A, it isapplicable that the TOC information be recorded in a management areasuch as AMG or ATSI of ATS or in a pack such as a CONT pack in theDVD-Van disc of the second embodiment or the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type ofthe third embodiment. Also, as shown in FIG. 31B, it is applicable thatthe TOC information is recorded in a management area such as AMG or ATSIof ATS or in a pack such as A pack in the DVD-Audio disc of the firstembodiment, the DVD-Van disc of the second embodiment or theDVD-ROM-Audio disc type of the third embodiment.

[0222] Next, a signal encoding apparatus is described.

[0223]FIG. 32 is a block diagram of a signal encoding apparatusaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0224] As shown in FIG. 32, in a signal encoding apparatus 30, an analogaudio signal A is sampled in an A/D converting unit 31 at a highsampling frequency (corresponding to a sampling frequency Δt) such as192 kHz, so that a PCM digital audio signal having a high resolution isproduced from the analog audio signal. The PCM digital audio signal iscomposed of a series of PCM audio data (Xb1,X1,Xa1,X2,Xb2,X3,Xa2, - --,Xb1,X2i−1,Xai,X2i, - - - ) corresponding to a high resolution curvedline α. Here, each piece of PCM audio data is, for example, expressed by24 bits, and the symbol “i” is a positive integral number. Thereafter,the series of PCM audio data {Xbi,X2i−1,Xai,X2i} is encoded to user datain a signal processing circuit 32 and a memory 33 and is sent to a DVDformatting unit 34. In detail, in the signal processing circuit 32, afrequency band of the series of PCM audio data {Xbi,X2i−1,Xai,X2i} islimited to half in a low pass filter such as a finite-durationimpulse-response (FIR) filter. Therefore, a series of band limited audiodata (Xc1,*,*,*,Xc2,*,*,*,Xc3,*,*,*, - - -,Xci,*,*, *, - - - )corresponding to a low resolution curved line β is produced as a bandlimited digital audio signal from the series of PCM audio data{Xbi,X2i−1,Xai,X2i}. Here, the symbol denotes one piece of band limitedaudio data. The series of band limited audio data is temporarily storedin the memory 33.

[0225] Thereafter, the piece of data “*” are removed from the series ofband limited audio data, and a series of sampling frequency reduced data{Xci}=(Xc1,Xc2,Xc3, - - -, Xci, - - - ) is produced as a samplingfrequency reduced signal from the series of band limited audio data. Theseries of sampling frequency reduced data {Xci} denotes a data seriesobtained by band-limiting the series of PCM audio data{Xbi,X2i−1,Xai,X2i} and reducing the sampling frequency (192 kHz) to ¼.The series of sampling frequency reduced data {Xci} is temporarilystored in the memory 33. Also, the pieces of data Xi are removed fromthe PCM audio data {Xbi,X2i−1,Xai,X2i}1, and a series of thinned-outaudio data (Xb1,Xa1,Xb2,Xa2, - - - ,Xbi,Xai, - - - ) is produced as athinned-out audio signal from the PCM audio data. The series ofthinned-out audio data is temporarily stored in the memory 33.

[0226] Thereafter, a difference Δ1i=Xbi−Xci and a difference Δ2i=Xai−Xciare calculated, so that a series of differential audio data {Δ1i} and aseries of differential audio data {Δ2i} are produced from the series ofsampling frequency reduced data {Xci} and the series of thinned-outaudio data {Xbi,Xai}. The differential audio data Δ1i and Δ2i can berespectively expressed by 24 bits (=3 bytes) or less, and the number ofbits expressing each piece of differential data is set to a fixed valueof 24 or is set to be variable. Thereafter, the series of samplingfrequency reduced data {Xci}, the series of differential audio data{Δ1i} and the series of differential audio data {Δ2i} are packed toproduce a packet of user data {Xci,Δ1i,Δ2i} (refer to FIG. 3) having2034 bytes (1 packet=2034 bytes). The packet of user data {Xci,Δ1i,Δ2i}is output to the DVD formatting unit 34. Also, in cases where each pieceof PCM audio data is expressed by 16 bits, it is applicable that theseries of PCM audio data {Xbi,X2i−1,Xai,X2i} be directly packed in theallocation circuit 40 to produce a packet of user data{Xbi,X2i−1,Xai,X2i}. In this case, the packet of user data{Xbi,X2i−1,Xai,X2i} is output to the DVD formatting unit 34.

[0227] Also, an analog video signal V is converted into a digital videosignal in an A/D converting unit 36, the digital video signal is encodedin a V encoder 37 to produce pieces encoded video data of the MPEGformat, the pieces encoded video data are packed to produce a packet ofuser data shown in FIG. 3, and the packet of user data is sent to theDVD formatting unit 34.

[0228] In the DVD formatting unit 34, the packet of user data producedfrom the analog audio signal and the packet of user data produced fromthe analog video signal are packed with text information and a discidentifier in the format (refer to FIG. 1B and FIG. 31B) of theDVD-ROM-Audio disc according to the first embodiment, in the format(refer to FIG. 9A and FIG. 31A) of the DVD-ROM-Van disc according to thesecond embodiment or in the fundamental format (refer to FIG. 29 andFIG. 31B) of the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2 according to the thirdembodiment.

[0229] Thereafter, in a first audio data recording method, the dataformatted in the DVD formatting unit 34 are modulated in a modulatingcircuit 35 according to a modulation method corresponding to the disc(the DVD-ROM-Audio disc according to the first embodiment, theDVD-ROM-Van disc according to the second embodiment or the DVD-ROM-Audiodisc type 2 according to the third embodiment) to produce pieces ofmodulated data, and the pieces of modulated data are recorded in thedisc. Also, in a second audio data recording method, the data formattedin the DVD formatting unit 34 are recorded in an intermediate recordingmedium in a recording unit 38. Thereafter, in an audio data transmittingmethod, the intermediate recording medium is handed over to a humaneditor such as a recording producer or an engineer. In another audiodata transmitting method, the data recorded in the intermediaterecording medium is transmitted to a terminal of the editor through acommunication interface (I/F) 39. Thereafter, the editor modulates thedata recorded in the intermediate recording medium according to amodulation method corresponding to the disc, and pieces of modulateddata are recorded in the disc(the DVD-ROM-Audio disc, the DVD-ROM-Vandisc or the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2).

[0230] Also, in a third audio data recording method, the data formattedin the DVD formatting unit 34 are directly transmitted to the terminalof the editor through the communication interface (I/F) 39, the editormodulates the data according to a modulation method corresponding to thedisc, and pieces of modulated data are recorded in the disc (theDVD-ROM-Audio disc, the DVD-ROM-Van disc or the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type2).

[0231]FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing a data encoding method performedin the signal encoding apparatus 30.

[0232] As shown in FIG. 33, the video signal V is input to the A/Dconverting unit 36 (step S101) and is encoded to video data in the Vencoder 37 (step S102). Also, the audio signal A is input to the A/Dconverting unit 31 (step S103) and is processed to user data in thesignal processing unit 32 (step S104). Also, text information and a discidentifier are input (step S105) and are encoded (step S106).

[0233] Thereafter, the video data, the user data of the audio signal A,the text information and the disc identifier encoded in the steps S102,S104 and S106 are converted into audio source data arranged in a formatcorresponding to the DVD-ROM-Audio disc, the DVD-ROM-Van disc or theDVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2 (step S107) in the DVD formatting unit 34.That is, a plurality of audio title sets (ATSs) are produced from theaudio data and the video data, an audio manager (AMG) is automaticallyproduced, TOC information is automatically produced, and the AMG, theATSs and the TOC information are formatted. Thereafter, the audio sourcedata including the TOC information is output to a terminal of a humaneditor (step S108).

[0234]FIG. 34 is a block diagram of another signal encoding apparatusaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0235] As shown in FIG. 34, in a signal encoding apparatus 40, acomputer decoding program CP required to decode the video data, the userdata of the audio signal A (that is, the audio data), the textinformation and the disc identifier encoded in the V encoder 37 and thesignal processing circuit 32 is input to an interface (I/F) 41. Forexample, the computer decoding program CP is arranged in an area of acomputer program title set (CTS) shown in FIG. 29. Also, it isapplicable that a computer encoding program used to encode the videosignal V, the audio signal A, the text information and the discidentifier be additionally input to the interface 41.

[0236]FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing a data encoding method performedin the signal encoding apparatus 40.

[0237] As shown in FIG. 35, the computer decoding program CP is inputwith the text information and the disc identifier (step S111) and areencoded (step S112). Thereafter, the video data, the user data of theaudio signal A, the computer decoding program CP, the text informationand the disc identifier encoded in the steps S102, S104 and S112 areconverted into audio source data arranged in a format corresponding tothe DVD-ROM-Audio disc, the DVD-ROM-Van disc or the DVD-ROM-Audio disctype 2 in the DVD formatting unit 34, and a prescribed scramblingprocessing is performed for the formatted audio source data (step S113).That is, a plurality of audio title sets (ATSs) are produced from theaudio data and the video data, an audio manager (AMG) is automaticallyproduced, TOC information is automatically produced, and the AMG, theATSs and the TOC information are formatted. Thereafter, the scrambledaudio source data including the TOC information is output at aprescribed transmission rate (step S114) and is recorded in a recordingmedium (step S115). The scrambled audio source data recorded in therecording medium is transmitted to the terminal of the human editor.

[0238] In this embodiment, the TOC information is automatically producedin the DVD formatting unit 34. However, it is applicable that a part ofTOC information be input to the DVD formatting unit 34 through theinterface (I/F) 41 with the computer decoding program CP.

[0239]FIG. 36 is a block diagram of a personal computer of a datareceiving side (or a human editor side) to which audio source data(audio data and video data) and a computer decoding program CP preparedaccording to one of the first to third embodiments are transmitted froma data transmitting side (or an encoding apparatus side), and FIG. 37 isa flow chart showing a processing performed in the personal computer.

[0240] As shown in FIG. 36, the audio source data and the computerdecoding program CP recorded in the recording medium are read out byusing a disc driver 104, or the audio source data and the computerdecoding program CP output from the signal encoding apparatus 30 aretransmitted to a personal computer 106 of the human editor through anetwork terminal 105. Thereafter, the audio source data and the computerdecoding program CP are decoded and played back in the personal computer106.

[0241] The personal computer 106 comprises a central processing unit(CPU) 106 a having a set of instructions (for example, an extendedinstruction set (MMX) of PP55C of Intel Co., LTD.) prepared for aspecial use to efficiently process a digital video signal and a digitalaudio signal, a random access memory (RAM) 106 b used as a buffer in adata processing operation, a data converter 106 c for converting theaudio source data which is read out from a disc by using the disc driver104 or is transmitted through the network terminal 105, an audiointerface (I/F) 106 d for supplying the audio source data processed inthe data converter 106 c to a plurality of speakers 103L and 103R (inaddition, a speaker 103C and a speaker 103S for a surround effect)through a D/A converter and an amplifier (not shown), a displayprocessor 106 e for performing a display control for a display unit (notshown), and an operation signal generating unit 106 f for generating anoperation signal according to an input signal input from a mouse or akeyboard (not shown) by an operator.

[0242] In the above configuration, an operation of the personal computer106 is described with reference to FIG. 37.

[0243]FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing a data encoding method performedin the personal computer 106.

[0244] As shown in FIG. 37, the CPU 106 a is set to a condition forreceiving a computer decoding program. Therefore, when a program loadcommand is input to the operation signal generating unit 106 f through akeyboard (step S201), a computer decoding program CP read out from adisc by using the disc driver 104 or transmitted from a datatransmitting side through the network terminal 105 is loaded in the dataconverter 106 c (step S202) and is stored in the RAM 106 b. After thecompletion of the loading of the computer decoding program CP, a programload flag is set (step S203), and the CPU 106 a is set to a conditionfor receiving audio source data. Because an extended instruction set(MMX) can be processed in the CPU 106 a, a high speed signal processingcan be performed in the CPU 106 a.

[0245] Also, when a play command is input to the operation signalgenerating unit 106 f through the keyboard, the personal computer 106accesses to a first track of a disc (the DVD-ROM-Audio disc, theDVD-ROM-Van disc or the DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2) of a datatransmitting side, a disc identifier indicating a type of the disc isread out, and it is checked in the CPU 106 a whether or not the discidentifier indicates “audio source data” (step S204). In cases where thedisc identifier indicates “audio source data”, audio source data is readout from the disc, a decoding processing is performed for the audiosource data according to the computer decoding program CP in the CPU 106a to obtain audio data (or an audio signal) and video data (or a videosignal) (step S205), and the audio data and the video data are deliveredto the audio I/F 106 d and the display processor 106 e (step S206). Thestep S205 and the step S206 are performed for each predetermined volumeof audio source data, the audio data is played back by the speakers 103Land 103R, and an image indicated by the video data is displayed on adisplay unit.

[0246] In contrast, in cases where the disc identifier does not indicate“audio source data”, a message “playback impossible” is displayed on adisplay unit (step S207). Also, if required, an encoding processing isperformed.

[0247] Therefore, a human editor can edit an audio signal transmittedfrom the data transmitting side through a recording medium or acommunication medium.

[0248] Next, the transmission of the computer decoding program CP andthe audio source data from the data transmitting side to the datareceiving side is described in detail.

[0249]FIG. 38 is a block diagram of the network terminal 105.

[0250] As shown in FIG. 38, the network terminal 105 is composed of atransmission terminal 105T arranged on the data transmitting side, areception terminal 105R arranged on the data receiving side and anetwork NW. The transmission terminal 105T comprises a transmission databuffer 111 for temporarily storing transmission data (for example, theaudio source data and the computer decoding program CP), a dataconverting unit 112 for converting the transmission data into pieces ofpacket data, an adapter 113, a terminal 114, and a controller 115 forcontrolling the transmission data buffer 111, the data converting unit112, the adapter 113 and the terminal 114. The reception terminal 105Rcomprises a terminal 121, an adapter 122, a data converting unit 123 forconverting the pieces of packet data into reception data (for example,the audio source data and the computer decoding program CP), a receptiondata buffer 124, connected with an internal bus of the personal computer106, for temporarily storing the transmission data, and a controller 125for controlling the terminal 121, the adapter 122, the data convertingunit 123 and the reception data buffer 124.

[0251] In the above configuration, an operation performed in the dataconverting unit 112 of the transmission terminal 105T and an operationperformed in the data converting unit 123 of the reception terminal 105Rare described. FIG. 39 is a flow chart showing a processing performed inthe data converting unit 112 of the transmission terminal 105T, FIG. 40is a flow chart showing a processing performed in the data convertingunit 123 of the reception terminal 105R, FIG. 41A shows a processing forproducing a series of packets from transmission data, and FIG. 41B showsa processing for reproducing reception data from the series of packets.

[0252] As shown in FIG. 39 and FIG. 41A, the data converting unit 112divides the transmission data stored in the transmission data buffer 111into pieces of data having the same data length to transmit the piecesof data as a series of packets (step S301). Thereafter, a headerincluding an address of the reception terminal 105R is arranged at thetop position of each packet (step S302), and the series of packets isoutput to the network NW through the adapter 113 and the terminal 114(step S303).

[0253] As shown in FIG. 40 and FIG. 41B, the header is removed in thedata converting unit 112 from each packet received through the terminal121 and the adapter 122 (step S311), and reception data is obtained byreproducing the data from the series of packets (step S312), and thereception data is transferred to the RAM 106 b through the receptiondata buffer 124 (step S313).

[0254]FIG. 42 shows the selection of an optimum route performed in thenetwork NW.

[0255] The terminals 114 and 121 are connected with each other throughthe network NW. Each piece of packet data is transmitted through a cabletelevision (CATV) circuit representing the network NW or is transmittedthrough an internet representing the network NW according to aTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). In the networkNW, as shown in FIG. 42, an optimum route is selected by a router R foreach packet, the packets are separated, the packets pass through aplurality of packet switching units Pn corresponding to the packets andare transmitted to the personal computer 106 in series.

[0256] Accordingly, the audio source data transmitted from the datatransmitting side can be decoded in the personal computer 106 of thedata receiving side according to the computer decoding program CPtransmitted from the data transmitting side.

[0257] Next, a fifth embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 43.

[0258]FIG. 43 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Avd(audio-video data) disc according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0259] As shown in FIG. 43, a format of data to be recorded in a DVD-Avd(audio-video data) disc belonging to one type of DVD-Audio disccomprises a video file F1 in which data to be reproduced by using aDVD-video disc player is arranged, an audio file F2 in which data to beplayed back by using a DVD-Audio disc player is arranged, atable-of-contents (TOC) file F3 in which TOC information described inFIG. 26A, FIG. 27A, FIG. 27B and FIG. 28 or in FIG. 26B, FIG. 27A, FIG.27C and FIG. 28 is arranged, and a computer program title set (CTS) fileF4 in which a program executed by a computer is arranged. The video fileF1 classified as a video title set (VTS) shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 9Acomprises a video manager (VMG), a video manager menu (VMGM) and videotitle sets VTS<1> to VTS<n>. In the VMGM, video data and audio datarelating to the video data are arranged. Also, in each of the VTS<1> toVTS <n>, video data and audio data relating to the video data arearranged.

[0260] The audio file F2 classified as an audio title set (ATS) shown inFIG. 1B comprises an audio-manager (AMG), an audio manager menu (AMGM)and audio title sets ATS<1> to ATS<n>. In the AMGM, video data and audiodata are arranged. Contents of the video data in the AMGM differs fromcontents of the video data in the VMGM, and contents of the audio datain the AMGM differs from contents of the audio data in the VMGM. In eachof the ATS<l> to ATS<n>, audio data is arranged. Contents of the audiodata in each of the ATS<1> to ATS<n> differs from contents of the audiodata in each of the VTS<1> to VTS<n>.

[0261] The TOC information of the table-of-contents (TOC) file F3indicates a top address of the audio data of the audio file F2, so thatthe top address of the audio data of the audio file F2 is specifiedaccording to the TOC information when a DVD-Audio disc player searchesthe audio file F2, and the audio data of the audio file F2 is playedback from a top position of a musical composition indicated by the audiodata.

[0262] Therefore, the video format of the video file F1 is the same asthat shown in FIG. 1A, and the audio format of the audio file F2 is thesame as that shown in FIG. 1B. The video file F1 including the videodata and the audio data, the audio file F2 including the audio data, theTOC file F3 including the TOC information and the computer program titleset (CTS) file F4 are directly recorded in the DVD-Avd disc at thefundamental format shown in FIG. 43 or are transmitted to a human editorthrough a recording medium or a communication circuit. The filestransmitted to the human editor are recorded in the DVD-Avd disc at thefundamental format shown in FIG. 43.

[0263] Accordingly, because the video file F1 including the video dataand the audio data, the audio file F2 including the audio data and theTOC file F3 including the TOC information are recorded in the DVD-Avddisc at the fundamental format shown in FIG. 43, in cases where aDVD-video disc player is used to play back the data recorded in theDVD-Avd disc, the video data and the audio data of the video file F1 canbe played back. Also, in cases where a DVD-Audio disc player is used toplay back the data recorded in the DVD-Avd disc, the audio data of theaudio file F2 can be played back while playing back the audio data froma top position of a musical composition indicated by the audio dataaccording to the TOC information. Also, the contents of the audio dataplayed back by the DVD-Audio disc player differ from the contents of theaudio data played back by the DVD-video disc player.

[0264] In this embodiment, audio data recorded in the DVD-Avd disc isplayed back at multi-channels such as six channels. In cases where theplayback of the audio data at two channels is desired, a mix-downcoefficient is required. To easily play back the audio data at twochannels, the mix-down coefficient is recorded in the reserved area ofone simple audio play pointer (SAPP) shown in FIG. 27B, so that themix-down coefficient is promptly read out.

[0265]FIG. 44 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Avd(audio-video data) disc according to a modification of the fifthembodiment of the present invention.

[0266] As shown in FIG. 44, a format of data to be recorded in a DVD-Avd(audio-video data) disc belonging to one type of DVD-Audio disccomprises the video file F1 in which data to be reproduced by using aDVD-video disc player is arranged, the audio file F2 in which data to beplayed back by using a DVD-Audio disc player is arranged, an audiotable-of-contents (TOC) file F3-2 in which TOC information described inFIG. 26A, FIG. 27A, FIG. 27B and FIG. 28 or in FIG. 26B, FIG. 27A, FIG.27C and FIG. 28 is arranged, and video TOC file F3-1 in which TOCinformation is arranged. The TOC information of the audiotable-of-contents (TOC) file F3-2 indicates a top address of the audiodata of the audio file F2, so that the top address of the audio data ofthe audio file F2 is specified according to the TOC information when aDVD-Audio disc player searches the audio file F2, and the audio data ofthe audio file F2 is played back from a top position of a musicalcomposition indicated by the audio data. The TOC information of thevideo TOC file F3-1 indicates a top address of the video data of thevideo file F1 and a top address of the audio data of the video file F1,so that the video data and the audio data in the video file F1 arespecified according to the TOC information of the video TOC file F3-1when a DVD-video disc player searches the video file F1. The video fileF1 including the video data and the audio data, the audio file F2including the audio data, the video TOC file F3-1 including the TOCinformation used for the video data and the audio TOC file F3-1including the TOC information used for the audio data are directlyrecorded in the DVD-Avd disc at the fundamental format shown in FIG. 44or are transmitted to a human editor through a recording medium or acommunication circuit. The files transmitted to the human editor arerecorded in the DVD-Avd disc at the fundamental format shown in FIG. 44.Accordingly, because the audio data, the video data and the TOCinformation are recorded in the DVD-Avd disc according to thefundamental format shown in FIG. 43, in cases where a DVD-video discplayer is used to reproduce the data recorded in the DVD-Avd disc, thevideo data and the audio data of the video file F1 can be reproducedwhile searching the video file F1 for the video data and the audio dataof the video file Fl according to the TOC information of the TOC fileF3-1. Also, in cases where a DVD-Audio disc player is used to play backthe data recorded in the DVD-Avd disc, the audio data of the audio fileF2 can be played back while playing back the audio data from a topposition of a musical composition indicated by the audio data accordingto the TOC information of the TOC file F3-2. Also, the contents of theaudio data played back by the DVD-Audio disc player differ from thecontents of the audio data played back by the DVD-video disc player.FIG. 45 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Audio discaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0267] As shown in FIG. 45, a format of data to be recorded in aDVD-Audio disc comprises the audio file F2 in which data to be playedback by using a DVD-Audio disc player is arranged, the table-of-contents(TOC) file F3 in which TOC information described in FIG. 26A, FIG. 27A,FIG. 27B and FIG. 28 or in FIG. 26B, FIG. 27A, FIG. 27C and FIG. 28 isarranged, and the computer program title set (CTS) file F4 in which aprogram executed by a computer is arranged. The TOC information is usedto play back audio data of the audio file F2 from a top position of amusical composition indicated by the audio data.

[0268] The audio file F2 including the audio data, the TOC file F3including the TOC information and the computer program title set (CTS)file F4 are directly recorded in the DVD-Audio disc at the fundamentalformat shown in FIG. 45 or are transmitted to a human editor through arecording medium or a communication circuit. The files transmitted tothe human editor are recorded in the DVD-Audio disc at the fundamentalformat shown in FIG. 45.

[0269] Accordingly, because any video file F1 is not arranged in theDVD-Audio disc, though data recorded in the DVD-Audio disc cannot beplayed back by using a DVD-video disc player, in cases where a DVD-Audiodisc player is used to play back the data recorded in the DVD-Audiodisc, the audio data of the audio file F2 can be played back whileplaying back the audio data from a top position of a musical compositionindicated by the audio data according to the TOC information.

[0270] In this embodiment, audio data recorded in the DVD-Audio disc isplayed back at multi-channels such as six channels. In cases where theplayback of the audio data at two channels is desired, a mix-downcoefficient is required. To easily play back the audio data at twochannels, the mix-down coefficient is recorded in the reserved area ofone simple audio play pointer (SAPP) shown in FIG. 27B, so that themix-down coefficient is promptly read out.

[0271]FIG. 46 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc with musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) data according toa seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0272] As shown in FIG. 46, a format of data to be recorded in aDVD-Audio disc with MIDI data comprises the audio file F2 in which datato be played back by using a DVD-Audio disc player is arranged, thetable-of-contents (TOC) file F3 in which TOC information described inFIG. 26A, FIG. 27A, FIG. 27B and FIG. 28 or in FIG. 26B, FIG. 27A, FIG.27C and FIG. 28 is arranged, and an MIDI file F5 in which MIDI data tobe played back by using a personal computer with an MIDI sequencer isarranged. The TOC file F3 comprises a TOC manager (TOCMG), TOC<L> usedfor the audio file F2 and TOC<2> used for the MIDI file F5. The MIDIfile F5 classified as an MIDI title set (MTS) comprises an MIDI manager(MMG), an MMG menu (MMGM) and MIDI title sets MTS<1> to MTS<n>. TOCinformation of the TOC<1> indicates a top address of the audio data ofthe audio file F2 to play back the audio data from a top position of amusical composition indicated by the audio data, and TOC information ofthe TOC<2> indicates a top address of audio data of the MIDI file F5, sothat the top address of the MIDI data of the MIDI file F5 is specifiedaccording to the TOC information, and the MIDI data of the MIDI file F5is played back from a top position of a musical composition (forexample, a background music) indicated by the MIDI data.

[0273] The audio file F2 including the audio data, the MIDI file F5including the MIDI data and the TOC file F3 including the TOCinformation are directly recorded in the DVD-Audio disc with MIDI dataat the fundamental format shown in FIG. 46 or are transmitted to a humaneditor through a recording medium or a communication circuit. The filestransmitted to the human editor are recorded in the DVD-Audio disc withMIDI data at the fundamental format shown in FIG. 46.

[0274] Accordingly, because any video file F1 is not arranged in theDVD-Audio disc with MIDI data, though data recorded in the DVD-Audiodisc with MIDI data cannot be played back by using a DVD-video discplayer, in cases where a DVD-Audio disc player is used to play back thedata recorded in the DVD-Audio disc with MIDI data, the audio data ofthe audio file F2 can be played back while playing back the audio datafrom a top position of a musical composition indicated by the audio dataaccording to the TOC information of the TOC<1>.

[0275] Also, in cases where a personal computer with an MIDI sequenceris used to play back the data recorded in the DVD-Audio disc with MIDIdata, the MIDI data of the MIDI file F5 can be played back while playingback the MIDI data from a top position of a musical compositionindicated by the MIDI data according to the TOC information of theTOC<2>.

[0276] Therefore, contents of the MIDI data of the MIDI file F5 candiffer from contents of the audio data of the audio file F2. Forexample, audio data indicating an original song is arranged in theATS<1 > to ATS<n> of the audio file F2, and MIDI data indicating anaccompaniment (or a background music) of the original song is arrangedin the MTS<1> to MTS<n> of the MIDI file F5. In this case, users canentertain the original song with its accompaniment or its backgroundmusic.

[0277]FIG. 47 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0278] As shown in FIG. 47, a format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc comprises an audio file F2-1 in which data to be played back byusing a DVD-Audio disc player is arranged, an audio file F2-2 in whichdata to be played back by using the DVD-Audio disc player is arranged,and the table-of-contents (TOC) file F3 in which TOC informationdescribed in FIG. 26A, FIG. 27A, FIG. 27B and FIG. 28 or in FIG. 26B,FIG. 27A, FIG. 27C and FIG. 28 is arranged. The TOC file F3 comprises aTOC manager (TOCMG), TOC<1> used for the audio file F2-1 and TOC<2> usedfor the audio file F2-2. The TOC information of the TOC<1> is used toplay back audio data of the audio file F2-1 from a top position of amusical composition indicated by the audio data, and the TOC informationof the TOC<2> is used to play back audio data of the audio file F2-2from a top position of a musical composition indicated by the audiodata.

[0279] The audio file F2-1 including the audio data, the audio file F2-2including the audio data and the TOC file F3 including the TOCinformation are directly recorded in the DVD-Audio disc at thefundamental format shown in FIG. 47 or are transmitted to a human editorthrough a recording medium or a communication circuit. The filestransmitted to the human editor are recorded in the DVD-Audio disc atthe fundamental format shown in FIG. 47.

[0280] Accordingly, because any video file F1 is not arranged in theDVD-Audio disc, though data recorded in the DVD-Audio disc cannot beplayed back by using a DVD-video disc player, in cases where a DVD-Audiodisc player is used to play back the data recorded in the DVD-Audiodisc, the audio data of the audio file F2-1 can be played back whileplaying back the audio data from a top position of a musical compositionindicated by the audio data according to the TOC information of theTOC<1>, and the audio data of the audio file F2-2 can be played backwhile playing back the audio data from a top position of a musicalcomposition indicated by the audio data according to the TOC informationof the TOC<2>.

[0281] Also, contents of the audio data of the audio file F2-1 candiffer from contents of the audio data of the audio file F2-2. Forexample, a music source of a musical composition played by a musicperformer at a first performance style is recorded in the ATS<1> toATS<n> of the audio file F2-1, and a music source of the musicalcomposition played by the same music performer at a second performancestyle is recorded in the ATS<1> to ATS<n> of the audio file F2-2. Also,a music source of a musical composition played by a first musicperformer is recorded in the ATS<1> to ATS<n> of the audio file F2-1,and a music source of the musical composition played by a second musicperformer is recorded in the ATS<1> to ATS<n> of the audio file F2-2. Inthis case, users can entertain the musical composition at variousperformance styles.

[0282]FIG. 48 shows a fundamental format of data recorded in a DVD-Audiodisc according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[0283] As shown in FIG. 48, a format of data to be recorded in aDVD-Audio disc comprises the video file F1 in which data to bereproduced by using a DVD-video disc player is arranged, the audio fileF2 in which data to be played back by using a DVD-Audio disc player isarranged, and the table-of-contents (TOC) file F3 in which TOCinformation described in FIG. 26A, FIG. 27A, FIG. 27B and FIG. 28 or inFIG. 26B, FIG. 27A, FIG. 27C and FIG. 28 is arranged. The TOC file F3comprises a TOC manager (TOCMG), TOC<1> used for the video file F1 andTOC<2> used for the audio file F2. TOC information of the TOC<1>indicates a top address of the video data and audio data of the videofile F2 to reproduce the video data and audio data from a top positionof picture and music indicated by the video data and audio data, and TOCinformation of the TOC<2> indicates a top address of the audio data ofthe audio file F2 to play back the audio data from a top position of amusical composition indicated by the audio data, so that the top addressof the video and audio data of the video file F1 is specified accordingto the TOC information, and the audio data of the audio file F2 isplayed back from a top position of a musical composition indicated bythe audio data.

[0284] The video file F1 including the video and audio data, the audiofile F2 including the audio data and the TOC file F3 including the TOCinformation are directly recorded in the DVD-Audio disc at thefundamental format shown in FIG. 48 or are transmitted to a human editorthrough a recording medium or a communication circuit. The filestransmitted to the human editor are recorded in the DVD-Audio disc atthe fundamental format shown in FIG. 48.

[0285] Accordingly, in cases where a DVD-Video disc player is used toreproduce the video and audio data recorded in the DVDVideo disc, thevideo and audio data of the video file F1 can be reproduced according tothe TOC information of the TOC<1>. Also, in cases where a DVD-Audio discplayer is used to play back the audio data recorded in the DVD-Audiodisc, the audio data of the audio file F2 can be played back whileplaying back the audio data from a top position of a musical compositionindicated by the audio data according to the TOC information of theTOC<2>.

[0286] Having illustrated and described the principles of the presentinvention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be modifiedin arrangement and detail without departing from such principles weclaim all modifications coming within the scope of the accompanyingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A signal encoding apparatus, comprising: signalencoding means for encoding a signal to produce audio data, audio titleset information and table-of-contents (TOC) information; formattingmeans for formatting the audio data produced by the signal processingmeans, audio manager information and audio title set information toarrange the audio data in an audio pack, to arrange the audio managerinformation in an area of an audio manager and to arrange the audiotitle set information in an area of an audio title set, and arrangingtable-of-contents (TOC) information in an area reserved for copyrightinformation which is arranged in a control data block provided accordingto a DVD-ROM standard, in the audio pack, in the area of the audiomanager, in a table-of-contents (TOC) file or in the area of the audiotitle set; and outputting means for outputting the audio data, the audiomanager information, the audio title set information and thetable-of-contents (TOC) information formatted by the formatting means.2. A signal encoding apparatus according to claim 1 in which a formattedsignal composed of the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) information3. A signal encoding apparatus according to claim 1 in which a formattedsignal composed of the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationformatted by the formatting means has a hierarchical structure composedof album, audio title set, audio title, track and index, a plurality oftracks are arranged in the order of arranging a plurality of audiotitles, audio data indicating a unit of music is arranged in each track,the table-of-contents (TOC) information is arranged for each track, andthe pieces of table-of-contents (TOC) information are arranged in theorder of arranging the audio titles.
 4. A signal encoding apparatusaccording to claim 1 in which the table-of-contents (TOC) informationincludes a sampling frequency of the audio data.
 5. A signal encodingapparatus according to claim 1 in which the table-of-contents (TOC)information includes the number of quantization bits in the audio data.6. A signal encoding apparatus according to claim 3 in which eachreproduction unit of the formatted signal is called a group, and thetable-of-contents (TOC) information has a hierarchical structurecomposed of album, group, audio title and track.
 7. A signal encodingapparatus according to claim 1 in which a disc identifier indicating aDVD-ROM-Audio disc, a DVD-ROM-Van (video data+audio navigation data)disc or a DVD-ROM-Audio disc type 2 is arranged in the control datablock.
 8. A signal encoding apparatus according to claim 1 in which adecoding program required to decode the audio data is formatted by theformatting means, and the decoding program is output by the outputtingmeans with the audio data, the audio manager information, the audiotitle set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) information.
 9. Asignal encoding apparatus according to claim 1 in which thetable-of-contents (TOC) information indicates a position of the audiodata formatted by the formatting means.
 10. A signal encoding apparatusaccording to claim 1 in which the table-of-contents (TOC) information isautomatically produced by the formatting means according to the audiodata formatted by the formatting means.
 11. An audio data transmittingmethod, comprising the steps of: preparing audio data, audio managerinformation, audio title set information and table-of-contents (TOC)information; formatting the audio data, the audio manager information,the audio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC)information to arrange the audio data in an audio pack, to arrange theaudio manager information in an area of an audio manager, to arrange theaudio title set information in an area of an audio title set and toarrange the table-of-contents (TOC) information in an area reserved forcopyright information which is arranged in a control data blockformatted according to a DVD-ROM standard, in the audio pack, in thearea of the audio manager, in a table-of-contents (TOC) file or in thearea of the audio title set; and transmitting the audio data, the audiomanager information, the audio title set information and thetable-of-contents (TOC) information through a transmission medium. 12.An audio data transmitting method according to claim 11 in which thestep of formatting the audio data includes the step of formatting adecoding program required to decode the audio data, and the step oftransmitting the audio data includes the step of transmitting thedecoding program through the transmission medium.
 13. An audio datarecording method, comprising the steps of: preparing audio data, audiomanager information, audio title set information and table-of-contents(TOC) information; formatting the audio data, the audio managerinformation, the audio title set information and the table-of-contents(TOC) information to arrange the audio data in an audio pack, to arrangethe audio manager information in an area of an audio manager, to arrangethe audio title set information in an area of an audio title set and toarrange the table-of-contents (TOC) information in an area reserved forcopyright information which is arranged in a control data blockformatted according to a DVD-ROM standard, in the audio pack, in thearea of the audio manager, in a table-of-contents (TOC) file or in thearea of the audio title set; transmitting the audio data, the audiomanager information, the audio title set information and thetable-of-contents (TOC) information through a transmission medium;receiving the audio data, the audio manager information, the audio titleset information and the table-of-contents (TOC) information through thetransmission medium; and recording the audio data, the audio managerinformation, the audio title set information and the table-of-contents(TOC) information.
 14. An audio data decoding method, comprising thesteps of: preparing audio data, audio manager information, audio titleset information, table-of-contents (TOC) information and a decodingprogram; formatting the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information, the table-of-contents (TOC) information andthe decoding program to arrange the audio data in an audio pack, toarrange the audio manager information in an area of an audio manager, toarrange the audio title set information in an area of an audio title setand to arrange the table-of-contents (TOC) information in an areareserved for copyright information which is arranged in a control datablock formatted according to a DVD-ROM standard, in the audio pack, inthe area of the audio manager, in a table-of-contents (TOC) file or inthe area of the audio title set; transmitting the audio data, the audiomanager information, the audio title set information, thetable-of-contents (TOC) information and the decoding program through atransmission medium; receiving the audio data, the audio managerinformation, the audio title set information, the table-of-contents(TOC) information and the decoding program through the transmissionmedium; and decoding the audio data, the audio manager information, theaudio title set information and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationaccording to the decoding program.
 15. An audio disc for recording dataat a data format, the data format comprising: an audio file, having afile name, for arranging audio data of a musical composition at an audioformat; and a table-of-contents (TOC) file, having a file name, forarranging table-of-contents (TOC) information, which indicates aposition of the audio data arranged in the audio file to play back theaudio data from a top position of the musical composition, at a TOCformat.
 16. An audio disc according to claim 15 in which the data formatfurther comprising: a video file for arranging- video data and audiodata relating to the video data at a video format.
 17. An audio discaccording to claim 16 in which the data format further comprising: asecond table-of-contents (TOC) file for arranging secondtable-of-contents (TOC) information, which indicates positions of thevideo data and the audio data arranged in the video file to play backthe video data and the audio data of the video file, at a second TOCformat.
 18. An audio disc according to claim 15 in which the data formatfurther comprising: a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) filefor arranging MIDI data at an MIDI format.
 19. An audio disc accordingto claim 18 in which the data format further comprising: a secondtable-of-contents (TOC) file for arranging second table-of-contents(TOC) information, which indicates a position of the MIDI data arrangedin the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) file to play back theMIDI data of the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) file from atop position of the MIDI data, at a second TOC format.
 20. An audio discaccording to claim 15 in which the data format further comprising: avideo file for arranging video data and audio data relating to the videodata at a video format; and a musical instrument digital interface(MIDI) file for arranging MIDI data at an MIDI format, and secondtable-of-contents (TOC) information, which indicates either positions ofthe video data and the audio data arranged in the video file to playback the video data and the audio data of the video file or a positionof the MIDI data arranged in the musical instrument digital interface(MIDI) file to play back the MIDI data of the musical instrument digitalinterface (MIDI) file from a top position of the MIDI data, beingarranged in the table-of-contents (TOC) file with the table-of-contents(TOC) information.
 21. An audio data transmitting method, comprising thesteps of: arranging audio data of a musical composition at an audioformat as an audio file; arranging table-of-contents (TOC) information,which indicates a position of the audio data to play back the audio datafrom a top position of the musical composition, at a TOC format as atable-of-contents (TOC) file; and transmitting the audio data of themusical composition and the table-of-contents (TOC) information througha recording medium or a communication circuit to record the audio dataarranged at the audio format and the table-of-contents (TOC) informationarranged at the TOC format.
 22. An audio data transmitting methodaccording to claim 21, further comprising: arranging video data andaudio data relating to the video data at a video format as a video file;and transmitting the video data and the audio data relating to the videodata through the recording medium or the communication circuit to recordthe video data and the audio data relating to the video data.
 23. Anaudio data transmitting method according to claim 22, furthercomprising: arranging second table-of-contents (TOC) information, whichindicates positions of the video data and the audio data arranged as thevideo file to play back the video data and the audio data, at a secondTOC format as a second table-of-contents (TOC) file; and transmittingthe second table-of-contents (TOC) information through the recordingmedium or the communication circuit to record the secondtable-of-contents (TOC) information.
 24. An audio data transmittingmethod according to claim 21, further comprising: arranging MIDI data atan MIDI format as a musical instrument digital interface (MI DI) file;and transmitting the MIDI data through the recording medium or thecommunication circuit to record the MIDI data arranged at the MIDIformat.
 25. An audio data transmitting method according to claim 24,further comprising: arranging second table-of-contents (TOC)information, which indicates a position of the MIDI data arranged as themusical instrument digital interface (MIDI) file to play back the MIDIdata from a top position of the MIDI data, at a second TOC format as asecond table-of-contents (TOC) file; and transmitting the secondtable-of-contents (TOC) information through the recording medium or thecommunication circuit to record the second table-of-contents (TOC)information arranged at the second TOC format.
 26. An audio datatransmitting method according to claim 21, further comprising: arrangingvideo data and audio data relating to the video data at a video formatas a video file; arranging MIDI data at an MIDI format as a musicalinstrument digital interface (MIDI) file; arranging secondtable-of-contents (TOC) information, which indicates either positions ofthe video data and the audio data arranged as the video file to playback the video data and the audio data or a position of the MIDI dataarranged as the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) file to playback the MIDI data from a top position of the MIDI data, at a second TOCformat with the table-of-contents (TOC) information as thetable-of-contents (TOC) file; and transmitting the secondtable-of-contents (TOC) information through the recording medium or thecommunication circuit to record the second table-of-contents (TOC)information arranged at the second TOC format.